Charles Bradway, b. 18 Jun 1817

ROBERTS, HUMES, GALAWAY, DRAKE, CROPSY, DENN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 11:59:11

Charles Bradway, Sr., one of the most solid and reliable men of Farmers' Creek Township, possesses some traits not ordinarily met with. Nature has endowed him with fine intellectual capacities, and much force of character. He has been quite a student, and through his own exertions attained a thorough education in those matters which most properly engage the thoughts of the really sensible and practical man. He is of cultivated and refined tastes, and, financially, a self-made man, who has attained to a good position solely by his own efforts. There are few general subjects with which he is not fully acquainted, and enabled to discuss with clearness and accuracy. He is thus one of those with whom it is both pleasant and profitable to converse. His course in life has been that of an upright citizen, and he consequently enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

The homestead of Mr. Bradway is pleasantly located on section 34, and comprises twenty-six acres of land, which has been carefully cultivated, and yields abundantly the rich crops of the Hawkeye State. Aside, however, from the produce which he utilizes in his family, a large proportion of his land is devoted to the growing of medicinal plants, which Mr. Bradway carefully collects and prepares for the laboratories of Chicago, Peoria, and other cities. He has an unusually large contract for this season (1889), and from this industry realizes a handsome income. He has made of this subject a study, and takes a warm interest in it, aside from its financial returns.

Our subject was born in New Jersey, June 18, 1817, was reared and educated on the home farm, and in religious matters carefully trained in the doctrines of the Society of Friends. When a youth of sixteen years he began an apprenticeship in a machine-shop, and, after acquiring his trade, followed it in New York City, Philadelphia, and other places for a period of forty years. He was first married in New Jersey, to Miss Rachel, daughter of Mark and Sarah (Roberts) Bradway (no relative), and thereafter was in the employ of the Woolen Mill Company, at what was then Ellisville, but is now Alberton, Md. There, in 1861, he was elected First-Lieutenant of the Alberton Guards, but only remained there until August of that year.

Our subject now decided to seek his fortunes in the Far West, and, coming to this county, was employed in a machine-shop at Canton until August, 1863. His plans were then sadly broken in upon by the death of his wife, and he was left with a family of seven children. These were named respectively: Edwin, who served in the late war; Buelah S., Caroline W., Mark, Charles, Albert, and William H. In September following the death of their mother, Mr. Bradway took his children back to New Jersey, where little Mark died soon afterward. He secured homes for the others, and in October of that year entered the army as a horse-shoer, going from Philadelphia, and was thus occupied about four months. We next find him in Frankfort, Pa., where he was employed in a musket manufactory; then went first to Washington, and afterward to Nashville, Tenn., as a railroad blacksmith. Subsequently he was located in Tullahoma, Tenn., sixteen months, and until the close of the war, receiving his discarge July 22, 1865.

While in the pursuance of his duties as a horse-shoer Mr. Bradway was very seriously injured by one of the animals, and was laid up for some time. After retiring from the service he returned to New Jersey, got his children together, and brought them with him to this county. Soom afterward he purchased his little farm. In 1873 he was married to Mrs. Lucinda (Galaway) Humes, daughter of John and Alinda (Drake) Galaway, and widow of Charles Humes. Of the first marriage of Mrs. Bradway there had been born three children - Charlotte, Ralph, and Helen; two of whom are deceased. Charlotte (Mrs. Cropsy), since the death of her husband, makes her home with our subject.

Mr. Bradway embarked in the manufacture of bed-springs at Canton, and after a year his factory and all its contents were destroyed by fire. He continued, however, to carry on the business, and in 1875 met with another disaster by fire, this time losing his residence and all its contents.

The first wife of our subject was, like himself, reared in the Quaker Church, in the faith of which she passed away. His present wife is a native of Wayne County, N.Y., to which her parents removed at a very early day, taking passage on the second sailing-vessel which crossed the lake from Buffalo to Detroit, the voyage consuming thirteen days. The present flourishing city of Pontiac was then a mere village. The father of Mrs. Bradway carried on farming many years, but, finally, with his wife, removed to the vicinity of Monroe, where they spent their last days; the father dying in 1818, and the mother in 1855 at the age of seventy years. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bradway was a native of New Jersey, where several of his descendants still reside. Others settled near Palmyra, N.Y., when that region was but a forest.

Ezra Bradway, the father of our subject, was born, reared, and married in New Jersey, where he and his excellent wife spent their entire lives. The mother's name was Mary, and she was the daughter of John Denn, also a native of New Jersey. He was a Quaker in religion, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the first permanent settlers on the New Jersey coast.

Mr. Bradway is warmly interested in the success of the temperance cause, and at one time belonged to the Sons of Temperance. He has very little to do with politics, but coincides with the views of the Republican party. He lives quietly and unostentatiously; the greater portion of his time being taken up with his home duties and his books. He is a natural mechanic, and is thus enabled to add largely to the comfort of the family by supplying those little domestic conveniences which have so much to do with the happiness of a household. His place is kept up in a very neat and methodical manner, and forms one of the most pleasant homes in the township.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)